MEPPADI: The authorities on Tuesday made elaborate arrangements to conduct the post-mortem of the bodies recovered from the landslide-hit area of Mundakkai. Post-mortems of 50 bodies were conducted within hours at the Meppadi Social Health Centre.

A special team of 15 doctors and other health workers conducted the post-mortem at high speed. Four CIs supervised the inquest proceedings. As many of the bodies recovered from the ruins were dismembered, it was very difficult to identify them. Facilities for public viewing were also arranged at the Social Health Centre. The dead bodies were brought one after the other in the ambulances. The identification process was done first by placing the dead bodies on the tables.

The police began the inquest soon after the bodies were identified by the family members. The officers made sure that the inquest proceedings were completed quickly. After this, the bodies were subjected to post-mortem without any delay.

The health department was on alert as soon as the news of the tragedy broke in the morning. Upon realising the huge magnitude of the disaster, necessary preparations were made in the hospital. People came to the hospitals with tears in their eyes to see if their loved ones were there. The bodies were handed over to the relatives as soon as the post-mortem process was completed.